Women were frowned upon for dancing Morris in the 50's and 60s, despite their having been instrumental in popularising Morris in the early 20th century.Melanie Barber, The Morris Federation

Now Morris leaders predict that if the current trend continues the hobby will become overwhelmingly female within the next two years.

It is a far cry from earlier decades, when the idea of women Morris dancers was anathema to traditionalists.

That began to change during the Morris revival of the early 70s, driven in part by the spread of feminism and a renewed interest in women’s contribution to England’s history of folk music and dancing.

Female Morris sides - with names such as the 'Loose Women' and 'The Jingle Belles' - began to flourish, with help from the Women's Morris Federation, now just known as the Morris Federation.

Melanie Barber of the Morris Federation said: "Women were frowned upon for dancing Morris in the 50's and 60s, despite their having been instrumental in popularising Morris in the early 20th century.

A file photo of Morris dancers at the annual Sweeps Festival in Rochester.Credit:
Alamy

“I think what we are now seeing is a balancing out of men and women dancing Morris.”

Ms Barber said that the influx of women has helped strengthen an activity that faced decline as its traditional membership grew older.

She said: "Our experience is that the number of teams has gradually increased, and we believe that Morris dancing is in as strong a position today as ever, if not better.

"We've certainly seen more sides start up over the last fifteen years or so than fold, and The Morris Federation membership has risen from 377 sides in 2000 to 445 sides in 2015.

"New sides often start up from one person moving to a new area and starting afresh, or simply having been inspired by seeing dancers when visiting other places and wanting to start a team in their own town."

But the hobby’s oldest national organisation, the Morris Ring, is still holding out in the face of change.

Under the new rules, however, women were only allowed as musicians and in other "organisational" roles and were still not permitted to dance with the men.

The Ring, which represents 150 men’s Morris clubs across England, claimed that the folk dance is a traditionally male activity and that because of its arduous nature, women should not be able to dance with men.

At the time the Ring’s then Squire – or President – Peter Halfpenney, compared it to Premiership football, stating: "I would liken it to Manchester United not having any females in their first team. Their prime performers are men because they are physically stronger.”

The current Squire, Adam Garland, says the Morris Ring’s position may yet change to allow women dancers, as the hobby continues to evolve.

He told The Telegraph: “As with every single walk of life, things change. It’s great the numbers of women dancers is growing. We have nothing against them and we work closely with the other Morris federations. The more people we get in Morris the better.”

The advanced years of many male dancers has led to some Morris dancing sides folding.

The Priston Jubilee Morris Men, in Somerset, have grown too old to perform and the side has now decided to pack up its bells and handkerchiefs for good.

The troupe - formed in 1977 during the Queen's silver jubilee - had even held a taster session last year to try and attract new members, but to no avail. It held its last dance on May Day bank holiday last week.

Colin Emmett, of the Priston Jubilee Morris Men, said: "It's somehow appropriate that the side was formed to honour the silver jubilee and we are going out on the Queen's 90th birthday.

“Most of our side are approaching 70 or over now and you need to be fit. We have just 10 members and you need six plus the musicians to be able to dance. You have to allow for injury as well so it makes it difficult to take any bookings.”